Bulldog remote starter - Matrix T-Harness?

[Thunderscreech]

Hi all! Anyone know how similar the wiring harnesses in the Matrix and Vibe are? I've got a Bulldog Remote Starter and I'm looking at getting the 'T-Harness' to make the install easier, and there isn't one for the Vibe, but... as you may have guessed, they DO have one for the Matrix.Thoughts?

[epcIII]

Hi Thunderscreech--sorry, it's not an answer to your question, but just in case no one here knows (which I bet isn't the case!) you might want to also check: http://www.thematrixgarage.com/YaBB.plor http://matrixowners.com/index....8084& Good luck!

[cthomasparr]

Hi Thuderscreech,Wondering if you had installed the remote starter. I am toying with the idea of doing that for my 2004. I have one installed in my 1996 Accord and it works great.

[cthomasparr]

I should have added that I don't think the TOY4 harness will work. At least there is no harness on the bulldog site listed for the vibe. I installed the 1100E system in the accord and can give you my take on doing that without a harness.

[Thunderscreech]

I haven't done it yet. There's no entry for the Vibe, that's why I thought the TOY4 might work since it's basically a Matrix, but $30 is $30, not sure I want to risk it. How big of a deal was it to just splice it in w/o a harness?

[cthomasparr]

I can only speak for the installation on my accord, but I bet most cars are similar. In some ways, it wasn't that bad... although I did have my front seat out at the time, so I could lay on the carpet. Otherwise you have to lay on the seat upside down for a long time, which is pretty uncomfortable. I followed the manuf instruction, never using vampire taps and splicing the wires by removing the insulation separating the strands and weaving in the new wire. I have to say it made the process slower, but I did not damage a single wire. I used a sharp razor blade and carefully removed the insuation. I also didn't have to worry about any connections coming loose, because I never severed the factory wires. If there were going to be any bad connections it would be to the remote starter.I also don't think a T-harness (there was one available for my accord) would provide all the connections. There was a wire required to sense when the hood was up. This didn't exist as far as I know. It saves time, but it is not 100% of the connections.The connections that I found the worst were the connection to the brake switch. That wire was behind and above the break pedal and almost impossible to reach with both hands.My suggestion would be to investigate where all the wires are located and see how impossible it would be. In this case I don't think you have a choice of a t-harness, so it is more of a choice of whether to install or not.I can say that the remote starter has worked great. It gave me keyless entry which was huge!! the remote start was a bonus. I eventually installed a remote trunk release. I am deciding whehter or not to pick up a unit. I have keyless entry now, so it would give me remote start. If I didn't have keyless entry, I would have already bought a unit. It also appears that to use the bulldog remote for hatch release, you need to buy another relay. Kind of a shame since my car already has that on the keyless fob. Maybe I read that wrong.Good luck and if I purchase and install a unit I will give some feedback.. Maybe even take some pictures.